Apparatus for and method of cementing wells



Feb. 4, 1936. s. E. MANNING APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CEMENTING WELLS 3 Sheets-Sheet l mm a m w J w w A rA um. H 5 O O O O O a 0 o a G G Feb. 4, 1936. s. E. MANNING APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CEMENTING WELLS Filed Aug. 11, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 000 8/ 0 0 0 0 \O\\\OO\O E Z5 000 0000 330 n .r 4. a a. a 3 2 4 z 3 0 0000 M 5 2 000009 I. 4

7 MW 4 0 1 M w a 2 Feb. 4, 1936. s. E. MANNING APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CEMENTING WELLS Filed Aug. 11, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Quito-1144410 Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS Foa AND METHOD OF CEMENTING WELLS corporation of Texas Application August 11, 1930, Serial No. 474,440

15 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for and method of cementing wells.

One object of the invention-is to provide apparatus of the character described whereby a full string including a screen at the lower end thereof may be set in an open hole and cemented, that is surrounded byplastic cement, adjacent the upper end of the screening section, which is permitted to set to seal ofl water from an oil bearin stratum.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described whereby separate oil bearing strata may be'sealed ofl and protected against the entrance of water from other strata bearing water.

The invention further comprehends apparatus whereby a string of casing with one, or more, screen sections attached, may be lowered into an so open hole and the well washed and cemented at substantially a single operation.

The invention further comprehends anovel method of completing an oil well which comprises the steps of lowering a connected casing and 85 screen, of substantially equal inside diameters, into a well and washing the screen and cementing the well to exclude the water of one, or more,-

water stratum from the adjacent oil bearing stratum, or strata, all at substantially a single 30 operation.

With the above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts an example of which is given in 35 this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of one form of the apparatus in position to permit the screen to be washed and well to be cemented.

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a vertical sectional view showing the cement as applied about the upper end of the screen.

45 Figures 4 and 5 show, respectively, vertical sectional views of upper and lower sections of the apparatus employed for cementing off a plurality of water strata from the oil bearing strata.

Figure 6 shows a side elevation of this type of 50 apparatus in a well bore with the cementin operations completed and Figures '7 and 8 showing-respectively, vertical sectional views of upper and lower sections of the apparatus, as set in a well bore, and in the process 55 of applying the plastic cement.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral l designates a well casing to the lower end of which the well screen 2 is connected, by means of an 5 intermediate special coupling 3. The casing, screen and coupling are of uniform inside diameters.

At the upper end of the screen there is a perforated spider 4 forming a valve seat and an- 10 chored to and depending from said spider there is a valve stem 5 slidable on' which there is a downwardly opening disc valve 5 which is normally held closed by the coil spring I which surrounds said stem and is supported on the head 8 5 at the lower end thereof.

There is a flexible sack 9 around the coupling 3 whose lower end is fastened to the lower end of said coupling in any suitable manner as by the wrapped wire Ill. The upper end of this sack is formed with a sleeve l I in which there is located a coil spring l2 which causes the upper end of the sack to grip the coupling 3.

The coupling 3 has a plurality of vertical channels as l3 in the wall thereof whose upper ends are connected into the interior of the coupling through the ports l4 and whose lower ends are outwardly turned through the wall of the cou- Pling.

Fitted closely within the coupling 3 there is a sleeve valve l5 whose upper end is formed with a valve seat it. This valve is pinned in the coupling by the frangible pin IS in position to normally close the ports it.

Located within the coupling above the spider 5 there is a clutch member I1 and the lower end of the valve I5 is formed into a clutch member it, so that when the valve is forced into its lower position, said clutch members will interengage, as hereinafter explained, and said valve will be held against turning when it is attempted to drill the same out.

In use, the apparatus is assembled as shown in Figure 1 and the casing and screen then lowered into the well bore until the screen is located at the desired place. Washing fluid such as clear water may be then forced down through the casing and through the valve i5 and the spider 4 and the screen washed of all clogging material. In order to seal off the water from 6 water strata above to prevent it from intermingling with the oil beneath a seal is formed between the upper end of the screen and the well bore, that is, the well is cemented. In order to accomplish this a plug I9 is inserted into the casing 5- and the desired load of cement is poured into the casing above said plug, and another plug 20 is then inserted above the load. These plugs may be of any suitable material, preferably of cement, and they form a close flt, in the casing, being preferably provided with the usual cup rings or rubber packing. Pressure is then applied against the upper plug 23 and said plugs and the load of cement between them are forced downwardly until the lower plug rests on the seat I6 and the pressure will shear the pin i5 and the-sleeve valve 65 will be forced downwardly, and come into engagement with the clutch member 57 clearing the ports it and the plastic cement will pass out through said ports and through the channels i3 and will enter and expand the sack 9 forcing it outwardly into close contact with the walls of the bore and the pressure will be continued against the upper plug 20 until all of the cement is forced out into said sack, and as the sack 9 is expanded its upper end may move downwardly on the coupling 3, if the expansion is sufiicient to make this necessary, the channels l3 will be filled with plastic material and the ports it will be substantially closed by the upper plug 20 when in its final position so that the plastic material will be prevented from back flowing when the pressure is relieved from above the plug 20. The cement is then permitted to set to form a permanent seal and the plugs I9, 20, the valve 85 and spider 4 with its back pressure valve are then drilled out to clear the well and to permit the flow of oil into the screen and up to the ground surface.

The type of apparatus disclosed in Figures 4 to 8 inclusive has been designed for use in sealing oil a plurality of water strata in formation where the water and oil strata are alternatively arranged. In this type of structure the coupling 3, is connected to the lower end of the casing l and in all essential particulars is similar to the corresponding part shown in Figure 1 but the screen 2 beneath is connected to the lower end of the coupling 3, of this form, by the connecting collar 2|. Threaded into the collar 2i between the adjacent ends of the coupling 3 and the screen 2 there is a bushing 22 having internal left hand threads into which the gland 23 is threaded. Attached to the lower end of the screen 2 there is a long tubular coupling 24 to the lower end of which the upper end of the lower screen 25 is connected. It is understood that cementing is to take place at elevations where there are water strata and other pipe may be used in addition to the screen 2 for spacing the cementing couplings. Threaded into the upper end of the coupling 24 there is a gland 26 and spaced beneath this gland there is the perforated spider 27 forming a valve seat anchored in said coupling and having the depending stem 28 slidable upon which there is the downwardly opening valve 29 which controls said seat and which is normally held closed by a coil spring 30 which is seated on the head 3| carried by said stem. There are the expansible flexible sacks 32, 33 similar to the sack 9 and whose lower ends are anchored one to the lower end of the collar 2| and the other to the lower end of the coupling 24 in any suitable manner, as by wrapping the same with wire. The upper ends of these sacks 32, 33 are formed with the sleeves 34,35 in which are located the respective coil springs 36, 31 which cause said ends to grip the corresponding couplings. These couplings have the channels l3 as in the form shown in Figure 1 whose upper ends are connected into the couplings through the ports i4 and whose lgwer ends terminate in the respective sacks 3 33. 5

The ports M of the upper couplings 3 as shown in Figure 4 are closed by displaceable plugs 38 and the ports it of the coupling 23 register with an annular channel 33 around the gland 26. This gland 26 has the radial passageways fill whose inner ends are normally closed by the sleeve valve 3i fitted axially through said gland and pinned therein by a frangible pin 4|. A wash pipe 32 has its upper end threaded into the gland 23 and its lower end connected by left hand threads to the upper end of the gland 26. The apparatus is assembled asshown in Figures 4 and 5 but without the plugs 43 and 46 inserted therein and as so assembled is let down into the well bore with the sacks 32, 33 in 001- 20 lapsed position opposite the water bearing strata. Washing fluid such as pure water is then forced down through the casing i and through the wash pipe 32 and the back pressure valve 29 and the screens are thoroughly washed in the usual 23 way to remove all clogging material therefrom. When the screens have been thoroughly washed a plug 43 is inserted into the casing and a load of the plastic cement is then poured into the casing above said plug. This plug 33 has an axial bore 35 therethrough and beneath this bore, a downwardly tapering expansible valve seat 33 which is carried by said plug and in which is located a ball valve 37. Above the load of cement is then inserted the plug 44 and above it is 35 poured another load of plastic cement and above this load there is inserted into the casing a top plug 38 and fluid pressure is then applied to the upper plug to force the entire assembly with the loads of plastic cement referred to downwardly through the casing. The pressure exerted against the ball valve 31 will force the same down through the yieldable seat 36 and through the wash pipe 42 and said ball valve 4! will land upon the upper end of the sleeve valve 3i and close the same and the continued pressure will shear the frangible pin 3i permitting the sleeve valve 3!, closed by said ball valve 31 to move downwardly until it lands on the spider 21, said ball valve clearing the radial passageways M, Y and the lower load of cement will be forced on down through the wash pipe 42 and out the channels 30 and corresponding channels M into the lower sack 33 expanding the same outwardly against the wall of the surrounding bore and 55 forming a fluid tight joint therewith and the application of pressure against the upper plug 38 will continue to drive the plug 44, and the loads of plastic material downwardly until plug 43 lands on the upper end of the plug 43 in which position the upper end of said plug 44 will clear the corresponding ports l4 and the continued application of pressure will thereupon force the plugs 38 out of said ports l4 and the upper load of cement will be discharged through said ports. and through the corresponding channels l3 into the upper sack 32 and this will continue until the plug 48 lands on the plug 44, the said open sack 32 being thus expanded out against the walls of the bore, forming a tight seal, and the corresponding water strata will be thus sealed oil from the adjacent oil bearing strata.

When the cement has set a suitable boring tool is lowered through the casing and the plugs 48, 44, and 43 are drilled out and a fishing tap may ;75

material into the bore about the string adjacent then be employed and engaged in the gland 23 and by turning the same to the right said gland may be unscrewed from the bushing 22 and the wash pipe 42 simultaneously unscrewed from the lower gland 26 and removed and said gland 26 and the back pressure valve beneath then drilled out and the screens thus cleared for the production of oil.

The plugs 44, 48 may be equipped with suitable cup shaped packing therearound to form close fits in the casing and couplings through which they pass, and all of said plugs are preferably formed of cement, or other suitable material.

In the type of apparatus disclosed in Figures 4 to 8 inclusive the screen sections and connecting couplings are substantially uniform in inside diameters equal to the inside diameter also of the casing l above.

By the use of this type of apparatus the casing and screen may be set in a well bore, having a number of oil producing strata and water bearing strata, and the screen washed and the various water bearing strata sealed oil, at substantially a single continuous operation.

The drawings and description disclose what is now considered to be preferred forms of the invention, and a preferred method of using the same, but by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In completing a well, the method which comprises lowering a tubular string having a screen at the lower end thereof into the well,

forcing a washing fluid down through the string and screen, then lowering separate loads of plastic cementitious material down through the string and discharging said loads out into the bore around the string at different levels, at a single operation, to form separate seals about the string, one spaced above another.

2. In completing a well, the method which comprises lowering into the well, a tubular string having a screen at the lower end thereof, said String being provided with discharge openings one adjacent the upper end of the screen, and the other intermediate the ends of the screen, then lowering plastic cementitious material through the string and discharging said material, at a single operation, in separate loads through said separate openings into the bore around the string to form separate seals about said string, one spaced above another.

3. In completing a well, the method which comprises lowering into the well, a single tubular string having a screen at the lower end thereof, then lowering separate loads of plastic cementitious material, at a single operation, through said string and discharging one of said loads into the bore about the string intermediate the ends of the screen and discharging the other load of said material into the bore about the string adjacent the upper end of said screen.

4. In completing a well, the method which comprises lowering, into a well bore, a tubular string having a screen at the lower end thereof, then forcing a cleansing fluid down through the string and through the screen to cleanse the screen, then lowering the plastic cementitious material in separate loads, through the string and controlling the application of said material so as to discharge, at a single operation, a portion thereof into the well bore about the string intermediate the ends of the screen to form a seal and so as to discharge another portion of said the upper end of the screen to form a seal.

5. The method which consists in loweringa tubular string, having a screen at the lower end thereof, into a well bore and thereafter simultaneously lowering separate loads of cementitious material and discharging the same between the string and walls of the bore and thereby forming a plurality of spaced seals between the string and the walls of the bore, some of said seals being intermediate the ends of the screen.

6. The combination with a tubular string in a well bore having a screen at the lower end thereof, of means for lowering separate loads of cement through said string, controlling means for delivering said loads separately to create surroundingseals between the string and bore walls, at selected points, at a single operation controlling said string having upper and lower outlet passageways for the passage of said loads from within the string into the bore around the string, means, displaceable by pressure exerted against said cement, normally closing said passageways, and supporting structures disposed around the str n one beneath each passageway whereby the cement may be caused to accumulate in the space between the string and walls of the bore.

'7. The combination with a tubular string in a well bore having a screen at the lower end thereof, of means for delivering separate loads of cement through the string, means adjacent the upper end of the screen and means incorporated into the screen for directing said loads into the bore outside of the string for creating surrounding seals between the string and walls of the bore, said directing means each having an outlet passageway for the passage of the cement from within the string into the bore around the string, and valves controlling said passageways and controlling the flow of said cement, when the cement is subjected to pressure, to cause the cement to flow through said passageways successively, and accumulate in separate seals in the space between the string and walls of the bore.

8. The method which consists in lowering a string of pipe into a well bore, then introducing cementitious material into the well bore through said string in separate loads and controlling the application of said material to discharge said loads separately into the well bore around the string, at different levels and at substantially the same operation, then allowing said separate loads to set to form separate seals, one above the other, between the string and the walls of the bore.

9. The method of cementing a pipe in a well bore which consists in introducing cementitious material into the well bore, through the said pipe, in separate loads and controlling the application of such material to discharge the loads separately into the well bore around the pipe at different levels and at substantially a continuous operation, then allowing such loads to set to form separate spaced seals between the pipe and the walls of the bore.

10. The method of forming seals between a string of pipe, in a well bore, and the walls of the bore, which method consists in introducing a sealing material into the well bore, through the string, in separate loads and controlling the application of such material to discharge the loads separately into the well bore around the string at different levels at substantially the same operation to form separate, spaced, seals between the string of pipe and the walls of the well bore.

11. A method of setting screen pipe in wells comprising pumping a plurality of spaced superposed charges of cementitious material downwardly through the casing, discharging one of said charges at the lower end of said screen and then discharging the next superposed charge at the upper end of said screen.

12. The method of setting and cementing a pipe in a well bore, said method consisting of lowering said pipe to the desired location in the bore, introducing plastic cementitious material into the space between the pipe and the walls of the bore at spaced intervals and at a single operation to form a plurality of spaced seals about-said pipe, excluding said plastic material from contact with the pipe between said seals while said material is being introduced and allow said material to set.

13. An apparatus of the character described comprising a string of imperforate casing provided with a length of perforated casing at its lower end, cementing valves carried by the string above and below said length of perforated casing, and by-pass means positioned within and attached to said perforated casing and adapted to convey fiuid'to the lower cementing valve and prevent said fluid from passing outwardly through said perforated casing.

14. An apparatus of the character described comprising a string of imperforate casing provided with a length-of perforated casing at its lower end, cementing valves carried by the stringv above and below said length of perforated casing, by-pass means positioned within and attached to said perforated casing and adapted to convey fluid to the lower cementing valve and prevent said fluid from passing outwardly through said perforated casing, and expandible sack means carried by the lower cementing valve and adapted to receive and hold cementitious material discharged thereinto through said cementing valve.

15. An apparatus of the character described comprising a string of imperforate casing provided with a length of perforated casing at its lower end, cementing valves carried by the string above and below said length ing, by-pass means positioned within and attached to said perforated casing and adapted to convey fluid to the lower cementing valve and prevent said fluid from passing outwardly through said perforated casing, and expandible sack means carried by the cementing valves above and below said perforated casing, said sack means being adapted to receive and hold cementitious material discharged thereinto through said cementing valves. I

SANFORD E. MANNING.

of perforated cas- 

